Joe Linn Massage Newsletter
May 2014
The Power of Touch
In a High-tech World, It Pays to Reach Out
Nora Brunner
Physician and holistic health pioneer
Rachel Naomi Remen once confessed
that as a pediatric intern she was an
unrepentant
baby
kisser,
often
smooching her little patients as she
made her rounds at the hospital. She did
this when no one was looking because
she sensed her colleagues would frown
on her behavior, even though she
couldn't think of a single reason not to
do it.
The lack of basic human contact in our
high-tech medical system reflects a
larger social ill that has only recently
started to get some attention--touch
deprivation. The cultural landscape is
puzzling. On the one hand, we are
saturated in suggestive messages by the
skin-to-skin contact is beneficial to
human health, American social norms
inhibit this most basic form of human
interaction
and
communication.
Despite our supposedly enlightened
attitudes, we Americans are among the
most touch-deprived people in the
world.
"Touch deprivation is a reality in
American culture as a whole," writes
Reverend Anthony David of Atlanta.
"It's not just babies needing to be
touched in caring ways, or the sick. It's
not just doctors and nurses needing to
extend it. It's all of us, needing
connection, needing to receive it,
needing to give it, with genuine
happiness at stake."
An optimist is
the human
personification
of spring
-Susan Bissonette
Office Hours and Contact
Joe Linn Massage
Joe Linn
415-497-3176
By appointment only
Hours available Monday - Saturday
Call today to schedule your massage.
High-tech can mean low-touch. Ensure you're getting the tactile connection humans require.
In this Issue
mass media; on the other hand, the
caring pediatrician is afraid someone
might look askance at her planting a kiss
on a baby's forehead. What's wrong with
this picture?
The Power of Touch
The Wonders of Water
MT Straight Talk
Social Norms
Unfortunately, touch has become, well,
a touchy subject. Though there's
growing scientific evidence that
Distant, Disconnected
How did we come to deprive ourselves so
tragically?
According
to
Texas
psychology professor David R. Cross,
PhD, there are three reasons Americans
don't touch each other more: fear of
sexual innuendo, societal and personal
Continued on page 2
Continued from page 1
disconnection aided by technology, and
the fact that the ill effects of
non-touching are simply not that
obvious and don't receive much
attention.
It's no surprise Americans are often
afraid physical touching signals romantic
interest, which leads to the twin perils of
either
having
our
intentions
misunderstood or wondering if
someone's gesture is an uninvited
advance. This ambiguity is more than
enough to scare most people from
taking someone's arm or patting them
on the back.
The potential for the loaded gesture is
further complicated by our litigious
society in which unwelcome touch can
mean, or be interpreted as, dominance,
sexual harassment, or exploitation.
People in the helping professions are
regularly counseled on how to do their
jobs without creating even a hint of
ambiguity. In one extreme example,
counselors at a children's summer camp
were given the advice that when kids
proactively hugged them, the counselors
were to raise both arms over their heads
to show they hadn't invited the contact
and weren't participating in it. One
wonders how the innocent minds of
children will interpret this bizarre
response to their spontaneous affection.
"Humans deprived of touch are prone
to
mental
illness,
violence,
compromised immune systems, and
poor self-regulation," Cross says. So
serious are the effects of touch
deprivation,
it's
considered
by
researchers to be worse than physical
abuse.
Benefits of Touch
Stated more positively, science does
support the preventive health benefits of
touch. For example, Tiffany Field, PhD,
founder of the Touch Research
Institute, notes that in a study on
preterm infants, massaging the babies
increased their weight and allowed them
to be discharged earlier. Discharging
babies earlier from expensive neonatal
intensive care units could save the
healthcare system $4.7 billion annually.
In other research, scientists at the
University of North Carolina found the
stress hormone cortisol was reduced with
hugging. Cortisol is associated with
anger, anxiety, physical tension, and
weakened immunity.
Massage therapy has been found useful
in reducing symptoms such as anxiety,
depression, pain, and stress, and is
helpful for those suffering with a variety
of illnesses, including anorexia nervosa,
arthritis, cancer, fibromyalgia, and
stroke. While more research is needed,
massage therapy has also been shown to
reduce symptoms associated with alcohol
withdrawal and smoking cessation, and
can strengthen self-esteem, boost the
immune system, increase flexibility, and
improve sleep.
As a nation, we are still finding our way
in terms of increasing our touch
quotient; but those who make their way
into a massage therapy room are farther
along than most.
Another reason for touch phobia,
according to Cross, is that we live in a
society with far-flung families and
declining community connections.
Technology plays a significant role in
the way we communicate, and it seems
we move farther away from face-to-face
communication
with
every
new
invention. How ironic that the old
telephone
company
jingle
that
encouraged us to "Reach Out and
Touch Someone" gave way to the slew of
electronic devices we have today, all
ringing and beeping for our attention.
While these devices were invented to
improve communication, some people
wonder if the net effect is lower quality
in our exchanges of information.
While there is scientific research
showing non-touch is detrimental to
health, Cross says those negative effects
aren't obvious. The effects of a lack of
touch are insidious and long-term and
don't amount to a dramatic story for
prime time.
Massage helps boost self-worth and contribute to emotional well-being and connection.
The Wonders of Water
For Skin Health and More
Shelley Burns, N.D.
Creams,
nutritional
supplements,
treatments, lotions, and potions. We are
always looking for the next miracle
product to keep skin looking healthy and
young. However, there is one essential,
inexpensive, and often overlooked
nutrient right at your fingertips: water.
Just as a car cannot function without oil,
our bodies cannot function without
water. After oxygen, H2O is the most
important component of the body,
responsible for 65-70 percent of its
composition. And of this, 80 percent is
dedicated to the skin.
Water is the medium for various
enzymatic and chemical reactions in the
body. It moves nutrients, hormones,
antibodies, and oxygen through the
blood and lymphatic systems, and it also
helps form the matrix of the skin.
Devoid of water, the skin becomes
dehydrated, resulting in a dry, dull
tone.
It's likely that the moment a person feels
thirsty, mild dehydration has already set
in. To keep the complexion looking
smooth and blemish-free, drink water
upon waking and continue drinking it
throughout the day at one- to two-hour
intervals. At least six 8-oz. glasses of
water should be consumed daily and
more if you are exercising, perspiring,
and/or in hot weather. Ideally, intake
should be between ten and twelve 8-oz.
glasses of water a day. One note: Don't
increase water intake all at once, as the
kidneys and digestive system need time
to adjust. Add one 8-oz. glass every day
or every second day.
risk of colon cancer, bladder cancer,
and potentially even breast cancer.
What counts toward your daily water
intake? Just the basics: water and herbal
tea. Caffeinated beverages and alcoholic
drinks are diuretics that can contribute
to dehydration, requiring even more
hydration after drinking.
Not only is water important for skin
health, it can also play a key role in the
prevention of disease. Drinking eight
glasses of water a day can decrease the
Water helps keep the body at optimum health.
MT Straight Talk
What Your Massage Therapist Needs to Know
Angela England
Most massage therapists guide first-time
clients through an intake process that
includes discussing health histories and
other medical concerns. But talking with
your therapist about these things should
not end with your first massage. Before
each session, take a minute to speak with
your therapist about any new medical
conditions or injuries, lasting aches and
pains, or any other changes in your life.
Here are some of the issues your massage
therapist should know about.
Medical Changes
It's a good idea to regularly update your
medical record with your therapist,
especially if you've been diagnosed with
an illness or medical condition--such as
high blood pressure, heart disease,
diabetes, a chronic autoimmune disease,
or skin allergies--or are taking any new
medications. Certain medical concerns
preclude you from receiving massage.
Other conditions, such as pregnancy,
simply change the way your practitioner
approaches the session.
A New or Acute Injury
Maybe you spent hours driving to a
destination getaway and your shoulders
ache, or you stepped off the porch
wrong and sprained your ankle. Any
time you have a new ache, pain, sprain,
twist, or pulled muscle, mention it to
your therapist. Depending on the
location and extent of your injury, the
session may need to be postponed or the
injury site avoided until more healing
has occurred.
Personal Preferences
This category is less obvious, but equally
important. Everyone has unique
preferences and sometimes there may be
something you would like to change for
your next massage. Whether you want to
bring your own music, have the
temperature adjusted, or be draped in
an extra blanket, your therapist can
easily adapt as long as you communicate
your preferences.
Help your practitioner help you. Take a
moment to check in with him or her
before your next session.
Angela England enjoys doing massage, gardening,
writing, and spending time with her three young
children.
Tension is who
you think you
should be.
Relaxation is
who you are.
-Chinese Proverb
Joe Linn Massage
PO Box 5024
Petaluma, CA 94954
Hello Everyone,
Happy May Day!
I hope this newsletter finds you in good health and
happiness. One of the many meanings of May is the Elder;
maybe this is one reason why we celebrate Mothers Day in
May. In honor of all mothers the May special is purchase
one full price massage and get a one hour massage gift
certificate for 50% off!
I always enjoy giving someone their very first massage or
working on someone who has not had one in a longtime. I
can sense how much their body is enjoying it. In the article,
The Power of Touch provides insight into just how important
human contact is to health and wellbeing. We spend so
much of our time interacting with machines, it is so important
to take the time to connect.
The article MT Straight Talk is a reminder of how much I
appreciate your feedback, input and suggestions. The best
massage I can give is the one that gives you what you need,
so please let me know about any changes in your health and
what your preferences are so that you can have the best
massage.
I look forward to seeing you soon and have a great May!
Be Well,Joe